Not true. Many females notice their acne worsens just before their period. This is due to changes in female sex hormones which can contribute to the blockage and inflammation of the pore.

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Mythbuster

#33

Sweat from exercise causes acne

Not true - although it is always a good idea to cleanse your face after hot, sweaty activities.

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Mythbuster

#59

Make-up and moisturisers won't make acne worse

Some particular face moisturisers or make-up can make acne worse. Oil-based foundation can make acne worse. A silicone-based foundation is better for people with acne prone skin.

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Mythbuster

#27

Masturbation causes acne or makes acne worse

Using lots of over-the-counter acne medication containing active ingredients such as benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid will improve acne.

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#53

Pregnancy will help acne

Not true. Hormonal changes related to pregnancy or with stopping or starting oral contraceptives can cause acne in some people.

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Mythbuster

#56

Acne is caused by poor hygiene

Acne happens when the oil glands (pores) in the skin become blocked. Hormones make the oil glands produce more oil (sebum) and if the pores are blocked, a build-up occurs and you've got acne. It is not caused by poor hygiene, however keeping your skin clean will help acne.

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Mythbuster

#47

Blackheads are just dirt. You can wash acne away.

Too much scrubbing of your skin can further irritate the skin and trigger inflammation. You can't wash acne away!

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#37

Picking and squeezing pimples is OK

Don't do it! Picking and squeezing pimples quickly and visibly worsens acne. It also carries the risk of permanent scarring.

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#40

Acne is contagious

Acne cannot be 'caught' or transmitted from one person to another. Touching a pimple and then touching someone else on the skin will not increase their chances of forming a pimple.

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#71

Some prescribed medications won't make acne worse.

Some prescribed medications may aggravate or trigger acne. A doctor or pharmacist can advice you on this.

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#31

Sunlight, sun-baking or solariums will improve acne.

Sun exposure can cause inflamed spots to turn dark brown. It will also cause premature wrinkles, other signs of aged skin, skin growths and skin cancers. Although some people with acne notice a small improvement in their acne during summer, the benefits of extra exposure to sunlight are at best small, while the risks are large.

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#68

Steroids won't cause acne

Anabolic steroids illicitly used for bodybuilding often cause acne and are linked to more severe forms of acne seen in some men.

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#39

Acne is caused by allergies

There is no evidence that acne has any connection with any allergic reactions you may have.

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#16

Eating chocolate causes acne

No - chocolate doesn't cause acne! Although diet is important, in many cases having a good diet alone will not 'cure' acne.

Although a balanced diet high in fruit and vegetables will provide the vitamins and minerals necessary for good health, having a balanced diet will not in itself clear your skin and 'cure' your acne.

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#24

Too much, or too little sex makes acne worse

Acne has no connection between too much or too little sex.

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Mythbuster

#51

Masturbation causes acne or makes acne worse

Masturbation will not cause acne or make acne worse.

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Mythbuster

#62

Acne is not hereditary

Not true! Some traits do 'run in the family'. Studies show that the likelihood of acne is greater in people whose parents or siblings have also had acne.

Acne vaccine clinical trials could start soon

Published: 12 April 2017

A dermatology professor is hoping to start clinical trials for an acne vaccine developed over the past five years.

Acne can result in inflammatory lesions – the lumps and bumps on the skin – that are linked to skin bacteria known as P. acnes.

Dr Eric Huang from the University of California, San Diego has been working on a vaccine to educate the immune system of acne patients to allow their body to naturally control the growth of P. acnes.

“We couldn’t create a vaccine for the bacteria because, in some ways, P.acnes are good for you,” Dr Huang told a beauty magazine.

Instead, Dr Huang’s team is targeting a molecule (CAMP) in P. acnes, which leads to acne, and which the body cannot typically neutralise. This means the vaccine is designed to kill the acne-causing component of P. acnes only.

Lab research in mice and human acne tissues has shown the vaccine is effective but this is only preliminary work. The next step is testing the vaccine on patients in clinical trials

Reference: UC San Diego School of Medicinehttps://healthsciences.ucsd.edu/som/dermatology/research/labs/Pages/CMHuanglab.aspxhttps://techtransfer.universityofcalifornia.edu/NCD/19417.html